CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The No. 6 seeded Elizabeth City State University women's basketball team edged the No. 2 seeded Bowie State University Bulldogs in the final seconds for a 59-56 victory Thursday afternoon during the 2019 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Women's Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center.

The Lady Vikings (16-15) advances to the semifinals for the first time since 2010 and will face the No. 1 seeded of the South – Fayetteville State University Friday, Mar. 1 at 3 p.m.

Asia Deal led all scorers with 20 points and three rebounds while Jalyn Brown added 18 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Kyaja Williams paced Bowie State (22-5) with 16 points and eight rebounds while Dynaisha Christian chipped in 13 points and 12 rebounds and Pere Alexander contributed 10 points and six rebounds.

Bowie State (22-5) owned an 8-2 lead in the first quarter capped off by a layup from Christian at the 6:32 mark. Elizabeth City State weathered the storm after using an 8-2 run of its own to tie the game at 10-even. The Lady Vikings ended the quarter with five straight points to take a 15-12 lead.

A tip-in from Christian put the Bulldogs within one of ECSU but the Lady Vikings then scored 10 unanswered points to go ahead by double digits (24-14) in the second quarter. In the last 3:37 of the first half, the Bulldogs held a 5-4 scoring edge despite the Lady Vikings 27-19 frame at intermission.

In third quarter, both teams would exchange baskets as the contest featured seven lead changes and three ties. The Bulldogs would erase a six-point deficit down the stretch and take a two-point lead before ECSU's Iya Holley-Reid knocked down two free throws to tie the game at 38-38 at the conclusion of the stanza.

The fourth quarter literally came down to the last 23 seconds when Asia Deal made two free throws to give ECSU a 55-54 stand. On the ensuing possession, Pere Alexander gathered an offensive rebound and drove in the lane for a jumper that would put the Bulldogs ahead 56-55 with 10 seconds left in regulation. The Bulldogs applied pressure full court after the basket but Asia Deal got fouled where she would go to the line and once again hit two free throws to provide a 57-56 charge.

With 5.4 seconds remaining, Bowie State had a chance to tie or take the lead off an inbound pass but a missed 3-pointer resulted in a defensive rebound for the Lady Vikings who then iced the game with two made freebies from Asia Deal was named the Food Lion's MVP at the conclusion of the contest.

The Bulldogs were ranked #5 in the last NCAA Atlantic Region Poll heading into today's contest and will now have to wait to see if their record is good enough to receive a post-season bid.